“Huh…? What did you just say?”
Liese asked back in a trembling voice.
Tifereth continued, her tone completely devoid of any sense of tragedy.
“Well, you see, among the Human mages I killed, one of them, as he was dying, left behind the name ‘Liese.’ I figured that was probably your older brother. Sorry about that.”
“What, no way… Wait a minute… If that’s true, then why… You say you’re sorry, but… with just those words… my big brother…”
Liese looked like she was about to collapse.
Elen quickly rushed to support her.
“Liese…! Master, what were you thinking!”
Elen glared at Tifereth.
But Tifereth seemed unbothered.
“What was I thinking? Even if you ask, what’s done is done. Besides, they were the ones who tried to kill me.”
“That’s because you’ve been killing a lot of humans! If I didn’t stop you, even more people would have died!”
“I suppose so. But that’s just how this fight is, isn’t it? What’s the point of saying anything now? Then what about the humans who killed so many of my Dragon person kin?”
“Grr…! That’s… but…! That was a long time ago—”
“…I’ll kill you…”
Liese, whom the scholar girl was supporting, whispered softly.
Liese stood up swaying, and drew a dagger for self-defense from her breast.
“I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you—for my brother’s revenge…!”
“Ah, Liese!”
Liese’s eyes burned with anger, and she charged at Tifereth with her dagger drawn.
Tifereth, with far more elegant movements, reached for the hilt of her greatsword—
“—’Stop!'”
I spoke to Tifereth, infusing my words with the will of command.
Simultaneously, the golden collar around the Greatsword User’s neck glowed, and her hand froze.
At the same time, I stepped in front of Liese, grabbed her wrist, and stopped her murderous intent.
“You too, Liese. Stop it.”
“…Hmph! Douglas, let go! Why are you stopping me! I’m going to… avenge my brother…!”
“I haven’t forbidden Tifereth from fighting in self-defense. If you do that, Liese, you’ll be the one to die.”
“…Hmph! But… even so, I…!”
“No, calm down. I won’t permit this.”
I hugged Liese tightly.
It was to stop her from becoming mentally unstable.
In my embrace, Liese dropped the dagger from her hand with a clatter.
“Hic… Waaaaaaaah…!”
And with tears filling her eyes, she wept like a child.
I continued to hold Liese, who was sobbing uncontrollably, tightly.
Meanwhile, Elen was the one directing the most intense hostility towards Tifereth.
The swordsman girl glared at the person who had raised and trained her.
“Master— I still respected you somewhere in my heart. I always thought you were an amazing person. …But now I understand. You’re just an idiot.”
“Oh…? What is it, Elen? If you’re looking for a fight, I’ll take you up on it. Come at me with that sword. I’ll kill you in an instant.”
“No way. I can’t win against you with violence. But that doesn’t change anything. I’ll say it again and again. You’re an idiot.”
“Tch…! -Fine, fine, I get it already. So I’m the bad guy, right? That’s good. Honestly, it’s sickening.”
“It’s us who feel sick! Why can’t you understand people’s feelings!”
“Fighting with words isn’t my hobby— See you later, you stupid disciple.”
With that, Tifereth stepped out of the effective range of her rain guard magic and walked away, drenched, somewhere.
“Go away, you stupid master!”
Elen, tears welling up as her emotions surged, yelled curses at Tifereth’s retreating back.
***
We felt somewhat out of place in the Dragon person village, so we found a suitable cave near the settlement and decided to rest there for the night.
It was completely dark.
Outside the cave, the rain was pouring down.
Seraphina’s magically conjured flames served as a makeshift campfire, providing warmth and light.
Aside from Tifereth, there were seven of us present—my wives, the archer Biner, the elder’s son Ain, and the scholar Liese.
Lombardia remained in his axe form.
My wives, with nothing else to do, were in the depths of the cave, telling Ain about their past adventures.
Biner stood at the cave entrance, gazing blankly at the rainy night.
Liese was huddled in a corner of the cave, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring blankly at the magical flames, her expression lost.
She was already a girl who was not prone to displaying her emotions, but it felt more accurate to say she had lost her vitality.
I took a blanket from my magical belongings bag and went over to Liese, draping it over her.
Aside from a slight flinch, she showed no reaction.
I sat down beside Liese as she huddled.
And in silence, I gazed at the flames with her.
“…Douglas.”
The scholar girl uttered softly.
I merely replied, “Yes?” and prompted her to continue.
Liese began to pour out her heart, bit by bit.
“I… I hate that person… that Dragon person, Tifereth. I hate her so much… I still want to kill her… If I had the power, I’d kill her right now…”
“I see.”
I replied softly.
Liese looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.
“…You don’t blame me, Douglas. The little girl who was just spouting nice words is now saying she hates him, wants to kill him, all about her own family… Even I think that’s beyond help.”
“No, it’s understandable to hate them. If I told you to discard your hatred, you wouldn’t be able to just do it by saying ‘okay,’ would you?”
“That’s… true… I think so… Right now, no matter what correct things are said, I probably wouldn’t be able to accept them… ‘Don’t fool me, this is a joke…’… I think I’d feel that way.”
Liese paused again after saying that.
Then she asked this:
“Douglas, can I be even more selfish…?”
“What is it?”
When I asked her that, Liese took a deep breath and uttered this:
“I want you to hold me. Hold me so strongly and passionately that this hatred disappears.”
“…Which meaning do you mean by that?”
“If the meaning of romantic intimacy is acceptable, then that one.”
Liese looked at me with wavering eyes and said that.
I thought Liese was acting out of desperation.
However, leaving her like this was also dangerous.
“If you’re serious, I’ll ask my wives, but…”
“Ah… right… What am I even saying… That’s of course impossible… I’m such an idiot…”
“No, it’s not impossible. My wives are as benevolent as goddesses. More importantly, Liese, it’s about you.”
“About… me…?”
“Yeah. I’m worried about you, Liese, but I’m unsure of what to do. Should I push you away by telling you to cherish yourself more, or should I accept you and hold you close…?”
I spoke my own uncertainty aloud.
Though I felt it was perhaps unmanly—
Upon hearing that, Liese chuckled.
“You’re honest and kind, Douglas.”
“I’m usually not like that, I’m more of a scoundrel. But you, right now, are different.”
“It’s precisely those kinds of things. …Douglas.”
“Yes?”
“I like you, Douglas. So, I want you to take all of me. —I know I’m being audacious. But still.”
Liese placed her hands on her chest and said that to me with a smile.
It was her second approach.
…I’m in trouble, this is.
The option to refuse was vanishing from me like a fragile, faint bubble.
“Understood. Wait a moment.”
I stood up and went to Mina, Elen, and Seraphina, who were talking with Ain, and relayed Liese’s request.
The three of them had their own reactions, but all were along the lines of “if you and Liese both want it, it’s fine.”
Ain, on the other hand, looked impressed, saying, “Amazing… this is the true form of a hero.”
What on earth is he talking about, I thought, but never mind that.
I returned to Liese and told her.
“We’re ready on this end. Before we proceed, I’ll ask you one last time—are you sure?”
Liese swallowed hard and answered with a determined look.
“Yes, please.”
“Understood.”
I roughly took Liese’s hand and stood her up, then pulled her body close with my other arm.
And I kissed the scholar girl’s lips.
“*Nn…!?*”
Her eyes under her glasses widened.
I held the girl’s body tightly and took all of her.
